Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum cultivar particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; dark red bronze ray floret color; yellow-green (immature) to yellow (mature) disc floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 75 to 100 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown as a single stem cut spray; medium peduncle length, and semi-upright branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Accord.

Accord is an induced mutation of Accent, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat.No. 3,945, and was selected to expand the color range of the parentalvariety.

Accord was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within aflowering block of the parental seedling by Jack M. Meek on July 12,1977 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio. Plants within theflowering block were derived from stock plants which had been irradiatedas unrooted cuttings with an X-ray source of 2600 R units.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Accord was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in January,1978 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Jack M. Meekand William E. Duffett. Continued asexual reproduction by vegetativecuttings for evaluative tests in flowering and stock programs inconjunction with horticultural examination of selected plants initiatedon Aug. 15, 1978 has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Accord are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Accord has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Accord which in combination distinguish thischrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) flat capitulum form;

(2) daisy capitulum type;

(3) dark red bronze ray floret color;

(4) yellow-green (immature) to yellow (mature) disc floret color;

(5) diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 75 to 100 mm. atmaturity;

(6) uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(7) tall plant height (attaining a height as a flowered plant of 90 to95 cm. from a rooted cutting planted to short days for April throughNovember flowerings);

(8) short peduncle length; and

(9) semi-upright branching pattern.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to Accord is the parental cultivar Accent.Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certaincharacteristics of Accord to those same characteristics of Accent.Compared generally to Accent, Accord has different ray floret color andtaller plant height. The capitulum form, capitulum type, diameter acrossface of capitulum, flowering response period and peduncle length ofAccord are similar to those same characteristics of Accent.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical inflorescencecharacteristics of Accord, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. on June 5, 1980 under 100 foot-candle lightintensity at Salinas, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Accord.

Commercial.--Cut daisy spray.

I. INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--75 to 100 mm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color, general tonality from a distance of three meters.--45-A to 45-C.

Color (abaxial).--45-A to 42-A over 179-A.

Color (adaxial).--42-A over 179-A.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (immature).--144-A.

Color (mature).--15-B.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

II. PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Tall, 15 to 20 cm., taller than Accent (medium height).

Branching pattern.--Semi-upright.

B. Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--Approximately 137-A to 137-B but more greyed.

Color (adaxial).--138-A but duller and more greyed.

Shape.--Spatulate; deeply lobed.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF ACCORD AND ACCENT                                               ______________________________________                                                                         DIAMETER                                              RAY                     ACROSS                                                FLORET     CAPITULUM    FACE OF                                      CULTIVAR COLOR      FORM & TYPE  CAPITULUM                                    ______________________________________                                        Accord   Dark Red   Flat Daisy   75 to 100 mm.                                         Bronze                                                               Accent   Purple     Flat Daisy   75 to 100 mm.                                ______________________________________                                                            FLOWERING    PEDUN-                                                PLANT      RESPONSE     CLE                                          CULTIVAR HEIGHT     PERIOD       LENGTH                                       ______________________________________                                        Accord   Tall       9 week       Short                                                 90 to                   5 to 8                                                95 cm.                  cm.                                          Accent   Medium     9 week       Short                                                 75 to                   5 to 8                                                80 cm.                  cm.                                          ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                    STEM CUT SPRAYS WITH NO LONG DAYS IN                                          SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                                           ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., plant known by the cultivar name Accord, as described andillustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by thecombined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type;dark red bronze ray floret color; yellow-green (immature) to yellow(mature) disc floret color; diameter across face of capitulum rangingfrom 75 to 100 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodicflowering response to short days; tall plant height, short pedunclelength; and semi-upright branching pattern.